Method of manufacture of printed articles,in particular printed knitted articles

ABSTRACT

A METHOD OF MANUFACTURE OF PRINTED KNITTED ARTICLES, HOSIERY, STOCKINGS, TIGHTS, AND THE LIKE WHEREIN, IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT THE DESIRED PRINTING, THE ARTICLES IS PROVIDED WITH A LIGHT SENSITVE SUBSTANCE AT A GIVEN MOMENT DURING ITS TREATMENT, IT IS FITTED ON A FORM AND SEBSEQUENTLY SUBJECTED TO PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPOSURE WHICH ACTS UPON THE SAID SUBSTANCE, AND THE THE SAID EXPOSED SUBSTANCE IS THEREAFTER DEVELOPED AND FIXED ON THE SAID ARTICLE.

0d. 17, 1972 GlBERSTElN 3,698,899

METHOD OF MANUFACTURE OF PRINTED ARTICLES, IN PARTICULAR PRINTED KNITTED ARTICLES Filed Aug. 17. 1970 MID-MW ATTOP/VA'XY United States Patent Oflice 3,698,899 Patented Oct. 17, 1972 3 698 899 METHOD OF MANiJFACTURE OF PRINTED ARTICLES IN PARTICULA KNITTED ARTICLES R PRINTED Bernard Giberstein, Paris, France, assignor to Begy Societe Europeenne de Bas sa France ns Couture Autun (saone Filed Aug. 17 1970, Ser. No. 64 428 Claims priority, application France, Alig. 27, 1969 692932? g), 1970, 7021298 n US. Cl. 96-27 03c 5/04 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE stance and the said ex posed substance is oped and fixed on the said article. thereafter devel- The present invention method of manufacture especially knitted stockings and tigh has essentially for its object a of printed textile articles and tgogilsskandfitlrosiery, in particular thin 1nmg garments f prgterile tarticles are known which are progid i v v ii h an pa erns or designs. Such printed articles are usuvgzrrlnicgted w th small-scale production e e artlc es, such as scarves, have the printing may be performed more or less in siiii s b sgg tar lnstance such techniques as serigraphy. y no c1; nvzngzglpttrialrgfiszliigreolshaped articles are concerned, is known. Under such conditi c iii; r'nmndustnal process to small-scale production using seri e lfi ii to result sarily very limited. Under such cond'i' W 16 are necesthe design or att r 119m, except Whine coss rapidly li ecoin d gr l ii bit iil e slmple producnon in order to avoid this difiicul effected on the shaped article in the haii e hdd s t ai e zher necessarily appears connections which are detrimental [Z the harmony of the finished products and which on the other hand, compel to take numerous precautions for reventmg the colour of one printed portion from coniin' QffTqIn another during manufacture. b e invention has for its ob'ect to e facture of printed articles and in particulzi r 3 135:; k i t t d d artlcles and hosiery, especially thin stockings and tights for sk n fitting garments for women, the method of the nvention enabling if desired, to effect the printing on an industrial scale at corresponding costs.

The method according to the invention uses a printed textlle article manufacturing process wherein the desired printing is obtained by providing the article with a photosensitive substance at a given moment during its treatment, sub ecting it subsequently to a photographic exposure whlch acts on the said substance, and thereafter develop ng and fixing the said exposed substance on the sa1d article. Methods of this type were known in the prior art and used for photographic printing of fabrics laid fiat. I According to the invention the method is characterized in that in being applied to shaped or non-shaped articles such as knitted articles and hosiery, especially thin stockings and tights for women, the said photographic exposure is carried out while the article is fitted on a form with the entire inside surface of the tubular garment continuously contacts the inserted tubular form.

The photographic exposure may be performed for instance on a form bearing the pattern to be reproduced and illuminated during the exposure, for instance from the inside, and during an appropriate period of time by means of a radiation source to which the said photosensitive substance is sensitive.

It is thus understood that if, for instance, a mode of photographic reproduction of the "negative-positive type is used with a form bearing the negative pattern or design which it is desired to transfer onto the article, it is possible to manufacture the required number of articles displaying the corresponding positive pattern subsequent to photographic exposure, development and fixation.

Indeed, it is sufficient to simply fit every time the article onto its form, and then to effect the photographic exposure, the same form being used as many times as desired for other articles to be manufactured.

Subsequent to manufacture of the desired quantity of articles in a given series, it is possible to destroy the form, thus limiting the exclusive printing of a pattern to a desired quantity.

The photosensitive substance which enables to transfer the design or pattern onto the form may be constituted in various manners.

It may for instance be constituted in the form of a more or less conventional photographic emulsion which is applied on the article and maintained there in any appropriate manner. The emulsion may be applied for instance by way of coating or impregnation. The photosensitive substance may be included in a solution, paste or paint. The fixation on the article, for instance on a nylon stocking or tights, may be obtained by using a glue or adhesive or finish according to the methods known in the manufacture of dyed or printed textile articles.

Alternatively, the photosensitive substance may be included in the textile material itself, for instance in the fibres constituting the same. The fibres may be provided with coloured pigments which will cause their colour to change when the fibres are suitably exposed.

The photographic printing may be effected by means of any suitable radiation to which the photosensitive substance used is sensitive. Infra-red (heating), visible (according to conventional photographic techniques) or ultraviolet (according to the conventional techniques used 1n the printing of drawings) may be used. X or 7 radiation may also be used.

The photographic exposure may be effected simply, as already stated in the foregoing, by fitting the article onto a form bearing the design or pattern to be reproduced and illuminated from the inside by means of a source of sensitizing radiation. For instance, the form may be made from transparent or translucid plastics on which the positive or negative design to be reproduced are drawn.

In the case of printing in several colours, the method may be carried out by using several forms and the design reproduced on the article from each form may correspond to a given colour. The photographic printing may also be carried out from the outside instead of the inside of the form. For instance, the article may be fitted onto the form and the latter while turning on itself may be subjected to the light beam of an image which may possibly change or pass along. Alternatively, the form may be stationary and the image may be projected on the form all around the latter, either by means of a convergent cylindrical beam or by means of a light beam moving round the form.

The invention also relates to improvements in the devices enabling to carry out the method in an economical and practical manner. It will appear more clearly from the following description made with reference to the appended drawings illustrating by way of example a few forms of embodiment of the invention as applied to the manufacture of stockings. In the said drawings:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates the sequence of successive operations used in carrying out the method of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating diagrammatically and to a larger scale one of the steps of the manufacturing process illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a form which may be used in carrying out the photographic printing according to the invention;

FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates an alternative process of photographic exposure of the article fitted onto a form according to the method of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 illustrating a further alternative process of photographic exposure of an article fitted onto a form according to the invention.

Reference is first made to FIG. 1 illustrating a succession of operations enabling to carry out the photographic printing, for instance on stockings.

The stockings I10 falling from the knitting machine and not yet sewn at their ends are emerged into a dye bath 11 containing the sensitive material enabling the photographic printing of the stocking. When this stage 1 of the dying of the stocking is completed, the dyed stocking 12 is conveyed to a cylindrical form 13 and fitted onto it. These operations are numbered 2' and 3 in FIG. 1.

The dyed stocking impregnated with sensitive material and fitted onto its form 13- is thereafter subjected to photographic exposure during the fourth stage of the process. This stage is denoted by the numeral 4 in FIG. 1. As appears more clearly from FIGS. 2 and 3, the form 13 is illuminated from the inside by luminescent tubes 14 and it rotates on the plate 25 driven by a roller 26 mounted on the shaft .27 of an electric motor 28.

As appears in FIG. 4, the form 13 bears designs or patterns 19 on its external surfaces. The form may be constituted by a cylinder made from transparent or translucid plastics or from any other equivalent or suitable material, and it may be decorated externally, internally or in its mass by any method leaving its imprint, so that during illumination from the inside by means of the tubes 14, the stocking 12 is subjected to the photographic exposure of an image. Thus, owing to the impregnation of the stocking "12 with a light sensitive material, there is formed on the stocking a latent image which it is thereafter sufficient to develop and fix.

Advantageously and simultaneously with this photographic exposure stage a drying operation is carried out by making hot air circulate as diagrammatized by the arrows f, in order to dry the stocking 12 on its form 13.

Subsequent to photographic exposure, the stocking 15 having a latent image and partially dryed is stored on the form 13 in an atmosphere which enables to disclose the image. According to a method which will be described later, the atmosphere is basic, for instance ammoniacal. This developing and disclosing stage is denoted at 5- in FIG. 1.

Subsequent to disclosure of the image, the latter is fixed on the fabric. This is the fixing operation denoted at 6 in FIG. 1. The fixation is advantageously effected on the form, for instance by means of steam, under pressure or not. The steam causes the dye stuffs to penetrate into the fabric.

Subsequent to fixation of the image, the articles 17 are withdrawn from the form 13 and carefully washed in a bath 18- as illustrated at 7 in FIG. 1.

Examples of printing of stockings according to this method will now be described.

EXAMPLE 1 The knitted stockings made from nylon or the like,

proceeding from the knitting machine and the end of 1 which is not yet sewn, are decreased in the usual manner so as to provide an article having a white background. In the last rinsing bath, a light sensitive material is introduced, which is constituted in the following manner: from 3 to 10 g. per litre of a diazo dye salt such as diazo salt marketed by the firm Francolor from 1 to 3 g. per litre of resorcin from 3 to 10 g. per litre of tartaric acid 10 g. per litre of glycerin ensuring the penetration and dispersion of the products in the emulsion 10 g. per litre of a finish or an emulsion such as lanolin emulsion forming a thickening agent, selected for instance among the products sold by Socit Ciba and known under the denomination Sapamine (registered trademark).

Subsequent to impregnation of the article with the sensitive solution, followed by squeezing, pressing out or centrifuging, the article is fitted onto the form 1 3 as diagrammatized at 3 in FIG. 1.

The article is thereafter subjected to photographic exposure during the required time depending on the concentration of sensitive material, the light energy used and the ntaure of the image borne by the form.

In those areas where the light reaches the stocking, the dye stuff is destroyed and subsequent to development the areas exposed to light appear in white.

Subsequent to photographic exposure and suitable partial drying, the article is stored on its form in an ammonia gas atmosphere which develops the dye-stuff in all the areas where it has not been destroyed by the light. In the example described where use is made of resorcin, the stocking areas which have been protected from light appear in chestnut colour.

Subsequent to suitable development, and while the stocking is still on its form, it is subjected to a steam bath, under pressure or not. The steam causes the dye-stuff to penetrate into the fabric thus fixing the image on the stocking in an indelible manner.

Subsequent to fixation of the image, the stocking is suitably rinsed so as to be freed from the residual products which have not reacted.

EXAMPLE 2 The same process as in Example 1 is applied, except that a pyrazolin salt is used instead of resorcin. In this case, the image which may be called positive since it appears there where the light has not reached the stocking, appears in red on a white background and not in chestnut colour on a white background.

EXAMPLE 3 The same process is applied as in Examples 1 and 2, except that phloroglucin is used instead of resorcin. The image this time appears in grey on a white background.

EXAMPLE 4 The same process is applied as in Examples 1, 2 or 3, except that instead of degreasing or in addition to degreasing, the stocking proceeding from the knitting machine is dyed.

In this case, the impregnation with sensitive material may be carried out simultaneously with the dyeing or subsequent to dyeing.

In this case, the positive image formed appears on a coloured background and not on a white background as previously.

EXAMPLE 5 The same process is applied as in the preceding ex amples, except that the sensitive material is replaced by a dyestuff of the type known under the trademark Indigosol supplied by the Sandoz laboratories or Solasol supplied by the Francolor laboratories. In this case, the printing obtained is a negative printing, i.e. the image subsequent to development appears coloured in the areas where the light has not reached the stoeldng.

If it is desired to obtain designs or pattern in several colours and more complicated, several successive operations may be carried out, and, in particular, a positive printing and a negative printing may be combined to obtain quite varied designs.

In the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the photographic exposure of a stocking 20 fitted onto a cylindrical form 21 is effected not from the inside but from the outside by means of a projector 22 rotating about the stocking and illuminating it by a light beam 23. Any desired image may thus be projected on the stocking. Alternatively, the form 21 may be made to rotate about its axis, the projector 22 remaining stationary.

In the alternative embodiment diagrammatized in FIG. 6, the illumination of a form 29 is effected from the inside by means of a projector 24 which may be constituted for instance by an electronic flash. A reflector 30 mounted in the lower portion of the form 29 reflects the light provided by the flash.

This arrangement offers a certain number of advantages as compared to the form of embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2. In particular, it is not necessary in this case to cause the form to rotate on itself and it is not necessary to place the form 13 around the tube 14, since the flask 24 may be positioned in any convenient place above the form 29. It is not necessary either that an electric supply wire 39 should pass through the tube 14 (FIG. 2). In addition, it is easier to adjust very accurately the light energy from the flash 24 and therefore to obtain more accurate and uniform results.

Of course, the invention is by no means limited to the forms of embodiment described and illustrated, which have been given by way of example only, and the invention comprises all the technical means equivalent to those described as well as their combinations, if the latter are carried out according to its spirit within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of photoprinting on a continuously tubular knitted garment element, comprising: impregnating said garment element with light-sensitive substance opening a tubular section in said element and coaxially mounting it on, coaxially tubular form with the entire inside surface of the tubular garment element continuously contacting said form, photographically projecting a peripherally continuous design onto said light-sensitive impregnating substance in the tubular garment element which contacts the form, axially removing the garment element from the form, and developing and fixing the projected design on the garment element.

2. A method of photoprinting according to claim 1, wherein the light sensitive substance is applied to the garment in the form of a coating.

3. A method of photoprinting according to claim 1, wherein the light sensitive substance constitutes an ingredient forming part of the knitted garment.

4. A method of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the impregnating is performed in a dye bath.

5. In the process of claim 1, wherein the tubular form is translucent and carries a design to be reproduced on the garment element.

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